Does technology really benefit our human rights?

Human rights in states struggling to overcome oppressive powers could be adversely affected by the rise of technology. That was the tone of an Amnesty International debate last night at which the topic "Is technology really good for human rights?" was being discussed.

Unsurprisingly, micro-blogging was one of the main focuses of the night's discussion, with Twitter singled out as a force for good during the recent protests in Iran.

Guest panellist Annabelle Sreberny -- Professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies, and specialist on the media in the Middle East -- began her contribution to the debate, which I attended, by saying that "Communication technologies have been good for human rights since we created the alphabet. Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are just the new tools for political change."

It was a sentiment that was to be echoed by much of the panel that included Susan Pointer, Google's Director of Public Policy & Government Relations, Kevin Anderson, blogs editor of the Guardian, and author of the controversial Cult of the Amateurbook, Andrew Keen.

But it was the use and effectiveness of these tools that was so hotly debated during the night, with conflicting arguments from internet critic Keen and Professor Sreberny.

"The tools of the digital revolution are equally or more effectively used by the regimes... you could argue that it [the internet] is a really effective tool in maintaining the authority of the regime. The Stasi would have been on Twitter if it was around," Keen said.

While following on from those comments Annabelle Sreberny replied, "In Iran the regime has not yet shown itself to be as savvy as the green movement."

"Slacktivism isn't enough"However, the panel agreed that social media was removing boundaries to information. Speaking about the Iran protests Kevin Anderson said: "Without social media we would not have been able to provide the information. It would have been a blackout of information."

"The internet can be problematic as some of the debates can become quite divisive online. I also think underlying slacktivism isn’t enough -- you can’t just turn your profile green. If you show support you are lazy? No. But there has to be a number of people taking actions in the real world, too." Anderson said.

It is this growing trend to show support via an online campaign that is threatening human rights movements across the globe, and the panel quickly picked up on the drawbacks of the internet in promoting false activism.

"I coined the phrase 'mousy solidarity' to explain how easy it is to click on a petition. We feel like we can participate." said Professor Sreberny.

What was made clear from the event was that both sides -- activists and regimes -- can see the potential for technology to promote their cause. But it was the words of a press spokesman for hosts Amnesty International that really struck home, underlining the need to continue to fight across several platforms, rather than relying on new trends to promote the cause.

"Forty years ago people wrote letters. Now I'll be asking people to email. But there is something very physical about a letter, which is why we will never give up on letters," he said. This prompted BBC technology journalist and panel chairman Rory Cellan-Jones to quip: "Amnesty International is the last hope of the Royal Mail."

People vs The PowerAs a whole the panel didn't really reach a satisfactory conclusion on whether or not technology is good for human rights. But it was clear from the fervent debate raging on Twitter that it was a topic onlookers passionately cared about, and that the words of the panel certainly struck a chord with those listening to the discussion.

It remains to be seen if technology will grow to help or hinder the work of human rights activists across the world. But one thing I am sure of is that in the future, technology will lead to an increased number of human rights violations as nanny states look to silence the free voices of the political activist blogger looking to undermine their power.